Northwestern Istria gourmet guide - Istra

Northwestern Istria gourmet guide
Northwestern Istria gourmet guide
enogastronomical itineraries
The Istrian Malvasia Route
Savudrija
1
Plovanija
14
15 8
16
13
3
Umag
Momjan
2
12
4
Buje
5
Grožnjan
Brtonigla
9
6
10
7
11
Wine makers
1. Degrassi, Savudrija
2. Kabola, Kremenje
3. CUJ Kraljević, Farnežine
4. Coronica, Koreniki
5. Veralda, Brtonigla
6. Istravino, Brtonigla
7. Zigante, Kostanjica
8. Kozlović, Momjan
9. Clai, Krasica
10. Cattunar, Brtonigla
11. Gambaletto, Krasica
12. Celega, Buje
13. Sinković, Momjan
14. Brajko, Oskoruš
15. Bassanese, Kaštel
16. Prelac, Momjan
Malvasia, which name comes from the Greek city Monamvasia (located
on Peloponnese peninsula), is a grape variety at least 2000 years old. It is
believed that Venetian wine traders brought it to Istria in the 14th century.
When talking about malvasia, we usually refer to a white grape variety,
although there is malvasia nera (red variety) grown mostly in the Italian
regions of Piemonte and Puglia. Today, the most famous variations are
the white malvasia from Italy, specifically Malvasia Bianca del Chianti,
Malvasia del Lazio, Malvasia delle Lipari, Malvasia di Candia, Malvasia di
Sardegna, and of course, Malvasia Istriana.
Malvasia became very popular in Istria around the nineteen thirties and
forties, and it is the dominant amongst the white grape varieties. Due to
the fact that the manufacturing technique for producing malvasia was the
same as for the red wine, its characteristics used to be poorly exposed.
Malvasia produced using such a technique used to have a brownish tint
and virtually no scent, a very few fruity and flowery aromas and it lacked
freshness. In short, it was an average wine and its aroma was mostly
dominated by the alcohol content.
During the eighties things started to change for the better. A handful of young
istrian winemakers started manufacturing malvasia in a technologically
more advanced way, and in the nineties a small revolution in winemaking
technology occurred as more and more winemakers start using modern
techniques and production processes of white wine.
The confirmation of the exceptional quality arrived in 1998 at the International
wine fair “Vinovita” in Zagreb when the Istrian malvasia by the Kozlović family
was awarded the title: The Best White Wine in Croatia. In accordance with
the world trend of increased popularity of native varieties, the interest in
the Istrian malvasia is increasing interesting and it is an appreciated wine
even outside Istria. Its emphasized alcohol content and extract richness
combined with moderate and lower percentage of acids makes malvasia
a rich and full-tasting wine. It is so discreet, flowery and fruity that many
people say it resembles the scent of the acacia flower. The fruity aromas
are most often dominated by apple and plum, and in a ripe wine you can
also taste a hint of bitter almond.
It is important to know that the cradle of malvasia in Istria is Brtonigla, also
known as the City of Wine. For 25 years now, a festival is held in Brtonigla
named “The Festival of Istrian Malvasia” in honour of the “Queen of wine” - a
local nickname for malvasia. It is held every year in mid July and lasts for a
week. The program and events can be looked up at www.tzo-brtonigla.hr.
North-western Istria is now leading in terms of new technologies in wine
making so it is no surprise this is where the majority of renowned wine
makers of malvasia are located. We encourage you to visit their modern
wine cellars and to try their top notch wines.
For those of you who want more, we invite you to visit Istria at the end
of May as the last week of the month is reserved for the “Wine day” - the
day when Istrian wine makers open the doors of their cellars for the public
(more on www.istria-gourmet.com).
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